"My mental transformation is given less importance compared to my physical transformation. My father refused to pay for my education or medicine. And now, that same father can't think of anything without me. The people who used to throw me out of their homes now invite me to weddings to dress up their children. But this journey from being Nayan the Hijra to Beautician Nayan was not easy."
This is how Narayanganj's Arnab Nayan, a member of the Hijra community, shared the story of her struggle.
Now known as Beautician Nayan, she is a prominent figure in the Pagla Rasulpur area of Fatullah Upazila, Narayanganj.
Her salon, Women Land Beauty Salon, is not just a hub for beauty treatments but also a testament to resilience and transformation.
Fighting for survival
As a child, Nayan loved to dress up, play with dolls, and indulge in cooking games. She was a natural with lipstick and eyeliner, but these innocent joys were shadowed by fear.
"I couldn't do it because of my father's fear," Nayan recalled. "He would beat me if I ate a little more. If I went to any events at a friend's house, he would find excuses to kick me out."
She said: “However, my real struggle began when I was in third or fourth grade. A hole in my heart was diagnosed. During treatment, I started taking medicines, and over time, noticeable physical changes began to occur. Eventually, medical tests confirmed that I had both male and female attributes. That's when my first struggle began."
By seventh grade, Nayan's body began to change. "I started gaining weight, and a part of my body began to show features of a woman."
This made her a target for taunts and abuse, even within her own family. Her father's disdain was unrelenting.
"My father refused to spend any money on me, unlike my two brothers and one sister. When I was in tenth grade, I couldn't even afford the fees to fill out my exam forms because I was a Hijra. My mother couldn't stand up for me either," she said.
How 'Women Land Beauty Salon' began
Although the salon was formally launched in 2022, Nayan had to overcome numerous hurdles to get there.
Receiving no financial support from her family, Nayan had no choice but to become self-reliant.
Driven partly by a sense of defiance towards her father, she began earning money. Being young and unable to find formal work, she started tutoring young children for Tk20 or Tk50.
Nayan said: "I saved up my tutoring money little by little to buy makeup items. Balancing tutoring and makeup work, I managed my studies and expenses fairly well. But one day, my father destroyed all my belongings. I couldn't say anything ; I just cried. That pain may have given me the strength to build myself up."
After passing SSC against all odds, Nayan enrolled at Narayanganj Commerce College.
She said: "Since a salon required significant investment, I took up a cashier job. However, I faced constant harassment for being a Hijra and had to leave. Other workplaces refused to hire me because of my gender.
"Out of desperation, I borrowed some money and went to Dubai in 2019 on a tourist visa. I returned after six months with some savings. Through a contact, I learned basic beauty skills from a woman in Gazipur and took a short training course. Then, with my mother's help, I took a Tk80,000 loan and saved up Tk3 lakh to open my salon," Nayan added.
Facing challenges as a Hijra
Opening the salon was no small feat. Finding a shop was an uphill battle; Landlords refused to rent to her, returning advance payments after learning about her gender identity.
"I knew the start wouldn't be easy," Nayan said. "Fortunately, one kind woman allowed me to rent a shop under her house, but at double the advance rate. I accepted and started the salon with a friend assisting me for Tk10,000 monthly."
The early days were challenging. "In the first three months, no customers came," she recalled. "But I didn't give up. Slowly, one or two people started coming. My good work gradually built my reputation, and customers began to increase."
Triumph over adversity
Today, Nayan's salon employs five women, paying them salaries between Tk15,000 and Tk20,000. Her shop rent exceeds Tk1 lakh, yet the business thrives.
"Now, people specifically ask for me to style their daughters or daughters-in-law," Nayan said with pride. "It feels wonderful. Even those who once taunted my family now come to me for help."
Her success extends beyond the salon. She has built a one-story house for her parents and arranged her younger brother's wedding.
Nayan credits Bandhu Social Welfare Society for helping her gain formal recognition. "Their financial and moral support for the communities like us is a blessing," she said.
"I want to create employment opportunities for other third-gender individuals. People often associate Hijras with clapping for money or demanding cash at weddings or childbirths. But I never wanted to do that, which is why I struggled so much. My goal is to ensure that society no longer views Hijras as outcasts. We are capable of earning and contributing just like anyone else," Nayan concluded.
